Rain-water cut-off and strainer.



no. 710,668. Patented on. 7, 1902.,

c. T. CHILDERS.

RAIN WATER CUT-OFF AND STBAINER.

(Application filed my 28, 1902.\

(No Model.)

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lUNiTE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES T. GHILDERS, OF GALESBURG, ILLINOIS.

RAlN-WATER CUT-OFF AND STRAINER.

SIPECIFIJATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 710,668, dated October7, 1902.

Application filed May 26, 1902.

and has special reference to that class of de:

vices utilized in connection with the spouting of buildings to providefor controlling the flow of the rain-water to a cistern according to itscondition.

To this end the invention contemplates a simple and practicalconstruction of rain-water cut-off and strainer comprising means forthoroughly straining the water, whether it is directed into a cistern orpermitted to waste, and also providing for discharging leaves or debrisheld in suspension in the water to a point exterior to the device.

In carrying out this object the invention also has in View the provisionof an eifective form of valve embodying means for diverting the flow ofwater into either outlet, as the conditions of the water may demand, andalso providing for an efiective arrangement of strainer proper.

In this connection the invention has for a further object a novelconstruction of strainer proper, constituting an independent receptaclein itself for collecting the debris, and,furthermore, mounted in a novelmanner within the valve, so as to correct any tendency of the water towaste over the outside of the cutoif, especiallyin the case of a leaf orequivalent obstruction being upon the screen portion of the strainer.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a strainerproper which is not only removable and replaceable from the valve, butis of a reversible form, being capable of occupying either of twopositions within the same seat provided therefor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple means formanipulating the valve of the cut-off which will always indicate fromthe exterior of the cut-off the direction in which the water is flowing.

iVith these and many other objects in view, which will more readilyappear as the nature Serial No. 108,945. (No model.)

of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novelconstruction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as will behereinafter more fully described, illustrated, and claimed;

The essential features of the invention comprehending the objects aboveindicated are necessarily susceptible to some modification withoutdeparting from the spirit thereof; but a preferred embodiment of theimprove ments is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1is an elevation of a rain-water cutoff and strainer constructed inaccordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical transversesectional view on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectionalview on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, showing the reversible straining-panseated in one of its positions. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3,showing a reversed position of the straining-pan within its seat. Fig. 5is a detail sectional view of the detachable and reversiblestraining-pan.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout theseveral figures of the drawings.

In carrying out the invention the main valve or cut-off to be referredto may obviously be associated with casings of slightlyvarying form andwith the several openings thereof arranged in different positionswithout affecting the spirit of the invention; but inasmuch as thepreferable form of the invention involves the employment of an externalcasing of a cylindrical or circular form this type of casing isillustrated in the drawings in connection with theother features of theinvention.

Referring particularly to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates thesaid cylindrical or circular casing, essentially consisting of acircular rim portion 2 and the parallel vertical flat side walls 3,suitably united to the side edges of the rim portion. At the top thecylindrical casing 1 has fitted thereto the inletneck 4: incommunication with the top portion of the casing and designed to havecon nected therewith the spouting whichusually conducts the rain-waterfrom the roof of a building. At its lower side, diametrically oppositethe inlet-neck 4 at the top, the casing 1 of the cut-oif device isfurther provided with the separate outlet-necks 5 and 6, arranged inspaced relation and respectively disposed at opposite sides of thevertical transverse center of the casing, said separate outlets'5 and 6usually leading, respectively, to the cistern and to the waste.

In addition to the single inlet-neck 4 at the top and the separatespaced outlets 5 and 6 at the bottom the casing 1 is further provided indiametrically opposite sides of its circular rim portion with theenlarged side wasteopenings 7, through which leaves and other debrisstrained from the rain-water are discharged to a point exterior to thecasing. The said side waste-openings 7, which are formed indiametrically opposite sides of the rim por- I tion of the casing 1, areof an enlarged form to permit of the free discharge of any foreignmatter or substance that could pass through the inlet into the casing,and at the lower edges of the waste-opening 7 the rim portion 2 of thecasing is preferably bent inward to provide a short inclineddelivery-apron 8, with which cooperates the oscillatory bncket valve 9,working inside of the casing.

The oscillatory bucket-valve approximates in shape and size the casingwithin which it is housed and performs a plurality of functions. Thesaid bucket-valve not only pro.- vides for directing the water througheither of the separate outlets 5 and 6, according as the condition ofthe water may demand, but

. charged. To perform these several functions effectively thebucket-valve is preferably constructed as shown in the drawings. As anentirety, the bucket-valve 9 may be said to be of a general cylindricalform,like the casing within which it is arranged; but the essential partof the bucket-valve resides in the lower half or section thereof, whichmay be termed a semicylindrical cut-off member 10, substantiallyconsisting of the opposite parallel vertically disposed side walls 11and the semicircular rim-section 12, constituting the bottom of thesemicylindrical cut-off member 10 and not only serving to assist indiverting the water through either of the outlets 5 and 6, but alsoacting as an inside cover or closure for either of the sidewaste-openings 7, according to the turned position of the valve.

Preferablyin the formation of the bucketvalve 9 the side walls 11 of thesemicylindrical cut-0E member 10 are the lower portions of the circulardisk walls 13 of the bucket valve, said disk' walls extending above theplane of the cut-off member 10 and necessarily acting in the capacity ofguiding and bracing flanges bearing against the side walls 3 of thecasing 1, thus insuring a firmness in the mounting and movement ofparts.

The semicylindrical cut-off member 10 of the bucket-valve is providedcentrallyin the rim-section 12 thereof with a single outletport 14:,adapted by the oscillation or turning movement of the bucket-valve to beswung to a discharging position in communication with either of theseparate outlets 5 and 6. The diametrically opposite edges of the saidrimsection 12 of the cut-0E member 10 are designed to cooperate with andabut against the arresting-stops 15, projected inwardly from the rim 2of the casing above and contiguous to the upper ends of the sidewasteopenings 7, said arresting-stops being conveniently formed by afolding back and flanging of the rim 2 at the said top edges of theopening 7, although it will be understood that this detail may beprovided in any suitable manner so long as the stops'are arranged toarrest the bucket-valve at the limit of its movement in eitherdirection, so that one end of the rim-section 12 of the cut-ofi memberwill be substantially flush with the delivery-apron 8 of the uncoveredside wasteopening 7, as plainly shown in both Figs. 3 and et of thedrawings.

The bucket-valve 9 is mounted upon a pivot, so that it may be freelyturned to either side, according as the rain-water is to be divertedthrough either of the separate outlets 5 and 6. A preferable pivotalmounting of the bucket-valve is shown in the drawings, and consists inproviding at diametrically opposite sides of the valve thetransversely-alined separate pivot members 16 and 17. The pivot member16 usually consists of a short pin or stud fitted to one of thesidewalls 3 of the casing and projecting through a bearingopening formedin the adjacent disk wall 13 of the bucket-valve, said pivot member 16preferably projecting slightly within the bucket-valve, fora purpose tobe presently indicated.

The opposite pivot member 17 preferably consists of a short section ofthe adj ustinglever 18, arranged to swing at the outside of thecasing 1. The said pivot member 17 of the adjusting-lever 18 extendsthrough alined openings in one of the walls 3 of the casing and theadjacent disk wall 13 of the bucketvalve, and within the bucket-valvethe said pivot member 17 is preferably formed with an extended arm 19,projected within the bucket-valve flat against one of the disk walls 13to constitute, in conjunction with the inwardly-projecting pivot 16, arest for the strainer, to be presently referred to.

The exterior adjusting-lever 18 is preferably formed in the shape of anindicatingcasing 1 and designed to hold the lever fast in either of itsadjusted positions. The lever or indicating-pointer 18 is disposed inline with the single outlet-port 1% of the bucketvalve, so thatwhenengaged with one of the catch members 20 the same will point in the samedirection that the water is flowing, which is necessarily a feature ofad vantage in a device of this character.

In connection with the inwardly-projecting pivot member 16 and theextended rest-arm 19 the cut-off member 10 of the bucket-valve isprovided below the opposite extremities of the rim-section 12 thereofwith theinwardlyprojecting rest-flanges 21, which, together with theelements specified, provide within the top portion of the said cut-offmember 10 a seat for the detachable and reversible straining-pan 22.(Shown in detail in Fig. 5 of the drawings.) This straining-panessentially consists of a rectangular rim 23, having an inturnedholding-flange 2% at the top for binding in place the screen or sievebottom 25 of the pan. The rim 23 is of substantially the same area asthe seat provided within the top portion of the cut-off member 10, sothat the straining-pan will snugly and tightly register within the seat,while at the same time being capable of ready detachment.

In the preferred use of the invention the straining-pan is employed as apan-that is, with the screen-bottom 25 thereof disposed materially belowthe top edge of the rim 23, so as to collect and hold leaves and similardebris without permitting the water to waste over the outside of thecut-oh, which is frequently the case where the screens are flush withthe lateral or side discharge. This use of the screen is shown in Fig. 3of the drawings; but under some conditions it may be desirable to havethe screen or sieve flush with the side dischargethat is, flush with theinclined delivery-apron 8 of the uncovered side opening 7. When this isdesired, it is simply necessary to reverse the pan and place the samewithin its seat in an inverted position, as plainly shown in Fig. 3 ofthe drawings.

The construction described effects a thorough straining of therain-water, besides permitting of the same to be deflect-ed ordivertedinto either of the outlets as the conditions of the water may demand.Also the parts are readily removable and interchangeable, andparticularly the reversibility and detachability of the straining-panpermits of a ready and convenient cleaning and use of the device, whichis not ordinarily possible with other similar structures.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and minor-details ofconstruction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of theinvention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed, and desired to besecured by Letters Patent, is

1. In a rain-water cut-off and strainer, the casing provided with asingle inlet, a pair of paced outlets, and opposite side Waste-openings,and an oscillatory bucket-valve pivotally mounted within the casing andhaving at the bottom a single outlet-port and above said port providedwith a screen adapted to be inclined toward either side waste'opening,the bottom portion of said bucket-valve also constituting an insideclosure for the side waste-openingnot in use.

2. In a rain-water cut-cit and strainer, the casing having a singleinlet, a pair of spaced outlets, and opposite side waste-openings, anoscillatory bucket-valve pivotally mounted within the casing andprovided at the bottom with a single outlet-port and adapted to have itsbottom portion constitute inside closure for the side waste-openings,and a strainer removably fitted within the bucket valve above the singleoutlet-port thereof.

3. In a rain-water cut-oh. and strainer, a casing provided with a singleinlet, a pair of spaced outlets, and opposite side waste-openings in therim thereof, an oscillatory bucketvalve pivotally mounted within thecasing and having a semicylindrical cut-off member provided with arim-section constituting an inside closure for either side waste-openingand provided therein with a single outletport, said semicylindriealcutoft member having at its top a seat, and a straining devicedetachably mounted in said seat.

4. In a rain-water cut-off and strainer, the casing having a singleinlet, a pair of spaced outlets, and opposite side waste-openings, anoscillatory bucket-valve pivotally mounted within the casing andessentially consisting of opposite parallel circular disk walls and asemicylindrical bottom cut-off member having a rim-section constitutinga closure for the side waste-openings and provided with a singleoutlet-port, said semicylindrical cutoft member having within its opentop a seat, and a strainer detachably mounted within said seat.

5. In a-rain-water cut-0E and strainer, the casing having a singleinlet, a pair of spaced outlets, and opposite side waste-openings, anoscillatory bucket-valve pivotally mounted within the casing and havinga single bottom outlet-port, and an open seat, and a reversiblestraining-pan detachably mounted within said seat and fitting flushtherein in either of two positions.

6. In a rain-Water cut-off and strainer, the casing having a singleinlet, a pair of spaced outlets, and opposite side Waste-openings, anoscillatory bucket-valve pivotally mounted within the casing andprovided with a semicylindrical cut-off member having in its rimsectiona single outlet-port, said semicylindrical cut-oft member also beingprovided within its open top with an open seat consistin g of inwardlyprojecting rest-flanges below the opposite ends of the rim-sectionand & 710,668

for the valve, and a reversible straining-pan l outlet-port and astrainer arranged above detacbably mounted flush within the said seat.said port, said bucket-valve being arranged 7. In a rain-Water cut-offand strainer, the to have its bottom section cooperate with said 15casing having a single inlet, a pair of spaced delivery-aprons and alsowith said arrestingoutlets, and opposite side waste-openings, stops.said casing being further provided at the In testimony whereof I affixmy signature lower edges of said Waste-openings with inin presence oftwo witnesses. wardly-projected delivery-aprons and contig- CHARLESCHILDERS nous to the upper edges of said openings withinwardly-projecting arresting-stops, and an oscillatory bucket-valvepivotally mounted within the casing and having a single bottomWitnesses:

B. W. SEARLE,

D. GODFREY.

